‘What’s next … a cook and a driver?’: Virginia district’s 6-figure job posting for superintendent bodyguard raises community ire

A recent job posting for a bodyguard to protect a Virginia school superintendent caused the community to question the district’s priorities, even as it faces a $121 million budget deficit.

“According to the job posting on Glassdoor and other employment websites, the salary range, based on the school district’s pay scale, is between $84,000 and $143,000,” explains the local ABC affiliate. “The full-time position involves signing a 260-day contract.”

The job posting for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), a district ranked as the ninth largest nationwide, closed Aug. 5 and does not appear to have been filled.

“It’s not common for a school superintendent to have a bodyguard that’s dedicated specifically for that function,” said Ken Trump, president of the School Safety and Security Services consulting firm.

Drivers or personal assistants sometimes accompany superintendents – not dedicated bodyguards, said Trump, who has been involved in school security for more than four decades.